Thursday 9th July 2009

Well, it's been a frustrating time waiting for the boat to be worked on in Plymouth, itching to get on with the sail-training back on the Solent. But they are necessary jobs which hopefully will be concluded in the next couple of weeks at the very latest.

However, I've not been sat twiddling my fingers though. Apart from the endless succession of emails and phone calls coordinating the various elements of the project, I have been kept busy with some of the more "fun" aspects.

On Friday 3rd July, I was guest speaker at the local Durley Primary School on the day of their School Fete which had a Caribbean theme - 110 kids aged been 4 and 8. I've done lots of talks but that was one of the toughest - as Susana said; "they are kids, if you're rubbish, they will boo you".  Disarmed by her comments, I only just managed to pull it off, but only by steering the talk to sharks and pirates, another of Susana's suggestions. Thankfully there were no mishaps though I did learn that several of the 6 year olds had an unatural degree of knowledge about lifejackets and newtons of bouyancy, it was a slightly surreal experience being quizzed by a 6 year old about the manufacture of my lifejacket?? Talk over, I had the honour of declaring the school fete open - who said I don't live a rock n roll lifestyle?

I left the school and drove straight to Hampshire Collegiate School in Romsey where I was their guest speaker at their inaugural Sports Dinner.  A posh black tie dinner, I was conspicuous in my beige trousers and open-neck shirt. But it it was a simple choice. Talk to 110 young kids at Durley School wearing a black DJ or suffer the embarrassment of speaking at a black tie dinner wearing casual clothes.  It was a no-brainer.  Well done to all the HCS students who did so well in the prize-giving, especially Annabel Vose who, at the age of 15, won the national Optimist Sailing championships and will now go to Brazil to represent GB in the Oppie Worlds later this year. Go Annabel...!

Saturday 4th was slightly calmer attending the Rose Road Association Independence Day Summer Fair.  I managed to struggle to find a red, white and blue checked shirt to show some sort of solidarity with our American cousins. As patron of the Rose Road association, it was great to see so many people there supporting such a worthwhile cause and I ate my fair share of doughnuts.

Sunday it was off to Farnborough where I was asked to participate in a panel discussion on sport at the annual Beyond Boundaries exhbition.  What a great show but it was missing only 1 thing - PEOPLE!!!  Maybe it was the Wimbledon final which put people off but what a shame.  If you are disabled or have an interest in disability activities and getting outdoors to do something, there was something for everyone but it's such a shame there were so few people there.  On the way back, we saw the Alton Show was on so we stopped off to give Susana a taste of a traditional English Country Show.  I think she enjoyed it but dragging her through the cake marquee without stopping didn't win me any brownie points.

Wednesday was more akin to Christmas when all of our special Henri Lloyd branded clothing arrived - a gurt big box stuffed full with our jackets, shirts and essential sailing kit. It is fantastically generous of Henri Lloyd and I'm sat here now in my posh new Polo Shirt with geoffholt.com emblazoned across the chest and shoulders. I'm a lucky boy indeed.

Talking of lucky boys, Master T was "upgraded" to a red belt in his Karate class yesterday. Don't panic yet, it is only 1 up from the beginner white belt, but he and fellow 7 year old Katarate buddy Charlie (he of the big boobs club), can unleash some pretty ferocious kickking power. I reckon sending Tim to bed in future years could become increasingly tough as my willpower clashes with his Karate belt status.

Well, Thursday today, just had a great meeting with Raymarine and Mike the owner.  We are all systems blazing to get Impossible Dream back to the Solent in good time for Cowes Week (1st to 8th August).

Just before I go, do please have a read of the latest Sailability Foghorn magazine - there's a nice piece on "you know who". CLICK HERE